NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

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Career: Member of team for four seasons ... Career was slowed by a shoulder injury ... Reserve quarterback all four seasons with the 'Cats.

2009: Was third on the depth chart at quarterback ... Appeared in a game for the first time against Towson, rushing two times for six yards.

2008: Did not see action ... Injured much of the year.

2007: Did not see action.

2006: Did not see action ... Named team's offensive practice player of the week vs. Eastern Michigan.

High School: Ranked 48th nationally among all quarterbacks by SuperPrep and 26th nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks by Rivals.com ... Two-time all-district selection ... As a senior, completed 99-of-196 passes for 1,364 yards and 14 TD's (14.5 yards per completion) ... 2006 U.S. Army All-American Team finalist ... Invited to 2004 and 2005 Elite 11 Quarterback Competition ... Accounted for six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) and over 400 yards of total offense (19-of-32 passing for 360 yards) vs. Arlington Bowie (led by Texas quarterback commit Sherrod Harris) in the 2005 season opener ... Academic all-state selection ... Three-year starting quarterback ... Also a two-time all-district selection in basketball ... Was just the second freshman in the Blue Raiders' 50-year history to earn a varsity basketball letter ... Hails from the same high school that produced NFL quarterback Tommy Maddox ... Member of NHS ... Coached by Ross Dodson (first three years) and Gary Olivo (2005).

The Mauro File
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?
A: Dirk Nowitzki
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: If you want to do great things you have to take great risks
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: My dad is 6-foot-9
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: Florida
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: You get to play in the best conference in the country, the Big Ten
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Solid leader
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Seeing my nephew's birth
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A: Helping my younger brothers to become the special people that they are today
Q: The best book I have ever read is:
A: Ragtime
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My family
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Troy Aikman
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick?
A: Blow
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Spaghetti
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: The grass is perfect
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: It's right next to Chicago
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Running in the game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl (a la Vince Young)
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: The Office
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Playing basketball
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Caring, observant, smart
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: Never wear new gear in a game